The NFL is going to make last year’s Super Bowl teams run a true gauntlet to get back to the game this year. Count the champion Seattle Seahawks and the runner-up Denver Broncos among the five teams with the toughest road back to the playoffs, based on the schedule released by the league Wednesday night.

The Indianapolis Colts, on the other hand, have the weakest strength of schedule and fairly smooth sailing the first half of the season—placing them among the five teams with the easiest roads to the playoffs.

The five toughest

The obstacle for Peyton Manning and his new helpers is how front-loaded the schedule is – their first nine weeks are: Colts (Sunday night), Chiefs, at Seahawks, bye, Cardinals, at Jets, 49ers (Sunday night), Chargers (Thursday), at Patriots. So, 10 days to prepare for another Armageddon trip to Foxboro in November, but four days to recover from the 49ers to play San Diego. Another 9-1 start would be a miracle.

They missed the playoffs on the last day last year, and this year they’d better be in strong shape hitting the stretch. Their final six games, starting the Sunday before Thanksgiving: at Seahawks, at Falcons, Chiefs, at Rams (Thursday), Seahawks (Sunday night), at 49ers.

Seattle gets it early and late. Their first three are the Packers in the Thursday opener, at the Chargers and the Broncos Super rematch. Then, five of their six division games are in the final six weeks. Final seven games: at Chiefs, Cardinals, at 49ers (Thanksgiving night), at Eagles. 49ers, at Cardinals (Sunday night), Rams.

They’re defending the AFC North title. They’d better hope they hit the ground running, because 1) the Ravens are on the easiest-road list, and 2) they have a brutal opening run. At Ravens, Falcons, Titans, an early bye – then at Patriots (Sunday night), Panthers, at Colts and Ravens at home. Could have an uphill battle as November starts.

Rex Ryan supposedly doesn’t have to make the playoffs to keep his job. Good, because while his Jets are probably the best of the rest in the AFC East, he still has to navigate this before the bye: Raiders, at Packers, Bears (Monday), Lions, at Chargers, Broncos, at Patriots (Thursday), Bills, at Chiefs, Steelers. You read that right – Denver at home, then at Foxboro four days later.

The five easiest

They get to play the Texans and Jaguars twice each, which puts them in the driver’s seat before the first giant flag is unfurled on opening day. They face just four teams that made last year’s playoffs. This is how they start: at Broncos (Sunday night), Eagles, at Jaguars, Titans, Ravens, at Texans (Thursday), Bengals, at Steelers, at Giants. Then a bye, then the Patriots on Sunday night – but until then they look to be in great shape.

They’ll have their shot at the AFC North champion Bengals out of the box, at home in the opener, then can establish something in the division the next two weeks against the Steelers and at Cleveland. The following week is the Steve Smith revenge game at Carolina, then a tough one in Indianapolis – then just a handful of other contenders sprinkled the rest of the way. Their last three: Jaguars, at Texans, Browns. Not many excuses.

They’re remaking their roster through free agency and Eli Manning needs a bounce-back desperately. In the NFC East, if they tread water, they’ll be in great shape the final six weeks: Cowboys (Sunday night), at Jaguars, at Titans, Redskins, at Rams, Eagles. The NFL did the NFC East and AFC South a favor by pitting them against each other in interconference play, by the way.

They play exactly five games against teams with winning records in 2013, so new coach Ken Whisenhunt has that going for him. Granted, four of them are on the road. On the other hand, the schedule has a nice, cushy midsection. Weeks 5-11 are: Browns, Jaguars, at Redskins, Texans, bye, at Ravens, Steelers (Monday night). Six games against non-playoff teams, and a bye. That’s their window to turn things around.

Will having a healthy Jay Cutler and a new defense pay off? If it does, the second half of the season is very inviting. After their bye, starting in Week 10, they finish: at Packers (Sunday night), Vikings, Bucs, at Lions (Thanksgiving), Cowboys (Thursday), Saints (Monday night), Lions, at Vikings. As long as they can wrap their heads around playing two straight Thursdays, they can’t ask for much more.